Marbled Godwit

[Kirk Benson]

While photographing DIF's at my favorite pond last year, I was fortunate to capture this Marbled Godwit as it came banking in from my left.

D300 | 500mm 1/2000s f/5 ISO 200 Handheld ~ Shot in landscape and cropped to vertical.

All C&C are greatly encouraged and most appreciated. Thanks for looking at what I love to do.

[christopher galeski]

nice banking pose,like the BG,nice light and detail.

[Binu John]

Wow! What a stunning capture! Love the banking pose, exposure, colors, light and BG. I would sharpen the head and beak a bit more. Very well done!

[arash_hazeghi]

great banking pose and sweet light, love the BG too. I agree with Binu, as posted the head is a bit soft as posted, more sharpening would help

TFS

[dankearl]

About the perfect pose, looks plenty sharp to me.....

[gail bisson]

The topside banking pose is superb. I have been trying to get a shot like this for years!
Love the light and the clean BG and the flight path towards you.
Comp is perfect for my taste.
I would sharpen the eye area just a bit more.
Great shot!
Gail

[Ritesh Nangare]

Awesome banking shot, great BG and sharpness over the bird.....

[Daniel Cadieux]

Wow, terrific view of the topside here, great plumage pattern and colours. Crop looks good, and the green BG sets off the warm tones of the subject quite nicely. I suppose a touch more sharpening on the face area for web presentation would work, but this is definitely a stunner overall.

[Jonathan Ashton]

Wow I bet you were pleased when you saw this! Super shot wonderful colours and background one to be proud of.

[David Salem]

You were fortunate is right Kirk!! Great that you caught her in a sweet banking pose, but more so, you caught her in the green BG of the trees that I always shoot for. Looks like it's the water but the bird is close enough to the trees to fly thru that nice green water. The techs and details look great too. Maybe a bit more sharpening around the head and eye but just a killer frame! Nice work.

[Kirk Benson]

Wow... many thanks for all the wonderful and encouraging words folks, they are most appreciated. I'll sharpen a bit more going forward, I've been guilty of over-sharpening in the past at times so I'm maybe a bit too conservative now. Thanks for the direction on that, very helpful to get your honest feedback.